Trusted, board-certified private autopsies in Dallas.
Independent answers about a loved one’s death in Dallas and across the Dallas area: clear, compassionate, and far faster than waiting on the county.
A complete exam by a board-certified forensic pathologist, histology by Clinical Pathology Laboratories, your full written report, and funeral-home coordination. One flat fee, or start with a no-obligation consultation.
Request a confidential consultation
We respond within 24 hours, day or night.
This isn’t a case we’re able to take on
Thank you for reaching out. Based on what you’ve shared, this isn’t a type of case Texas Autopsy Services is able to take on.
Deaths that may involve mesothelioma or occupational asbestos exposure usually call for a different kind of examination than we provide, and are often coordinated with legal counsel. We’d encourage you to speak with an attorney experienced in asbestos-related cases.
Deaths that occur while a person is incarcerated or in custody fall under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner for that county, who conducts any examination. That office is the right place to direct your questions.
If you think we’ve misunderstood your situation, please contact us.
Your request is in
Time matters with a private autopsy. Our team will reach out within 24 hours to confirm the details and begin bringing your loved one into our care. If it’s urgent, call us now at (806) 230-1889.
Keep things moving — reserve your case now
Placing a refundable hold reserves your case and lets us begin coordinating your loved one’s care right away, before we even speak. Your card is not charged until our team confirms your case; if we can’t proceed, the hold is released.
Reserve my case nowCan a family arrange a private autopsy in Dallas, Texas?
Yes. Texas Autopsy Services performs independent private autopsies for families in Dallas and the surrounding counties, whether or not the county medical examiner accepted the case. A complete private autopsy is a flat $5,795; preliminary findings come within 24 hours of the examination and the full lab-confirmed report follows in about four to five weeks. Texas Autopsy Services coordinates directly with your funeral home, so planned services are not delayed.
A forensic pathologist who takes the time the system didn’t.
When a death is sudden or unexplained, families are too often handed a vague cause, or none at all. The county may never investigate it at all. You’re left with questions and no one to answer them.
When a Dallas family wants the full picture
Dallas County deaths that fall under official jurisdiction are examined at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences for the public record. That examination answers the questions the public process asks — not necessarily the ones your family is left with. A private autopsy is built entirely around what your family needs to understand.
We serve families across Dallas, Plano, Irving, Garland, Frisco, and McKinney — and throughout Dallas, Collin, Denton, and Rockwall counties — with examinations by a board-certified forensic pathologist and direct funeral-home coordination.
You shouldn’t have to wonder for the rest of your life. You deserve to know what happened, and to hear it from someone who took the time to look.
Clear answers, one step at a time.
From your first call to the final report, you’re never left wondering what comes next. Most steps move within 24 hours.
Consultation
You reach out; we listen. We respond within 24 hours and walk you through your options, with no pressure and no obligation.
Authorization & intake
You sign the authorizations, and we bring your loved one into our care, coordinating directly with your funeral home so your services aren’t delayed.
Examination & first answers
A board-certified forensic pathologist performs the autopsy, and we share preliminary findings with you within 24 hours of the exam.
Laboratory analysis
We send specimens to accredited forensic labs. Detailed results return in about four weeks, without the public-system backlog.
Final report & conversation
We prepare your complete autopsy report and personally walk you through what it means, for your peace of mind, and your family’s.
Not months.
Preliminary findings reach you almost immediately; your full, lab-confirmed report follows in about four to five weeks. Either way, far faster than waiting on the county.
Answers bring a measure of peace.
When a private autopsy helps.
Most families come to us not for a courtroom, but for the truth, and the peace that comes with it.
Families come to us when…
- The cause of death is unclear, vague, or simply doesn’t add up.
- The county medical examiner declined to investigate.
- You’re concerned a condition could be hereditary and affect the family.
- You need answers for peace of mind and a path toward closure.
What you’ll walk away with
- A clear, board-certified determination of what happened.
- A written report you can take to your own physicians.
- Information about inheritable risks that matter to the living.
- The reassurance that you did everything you could to understand.
Not sure your situation fits? Tell us what happened, and we’ll give you an honest answer, even if that means pointing you elsewhere.
No surprises, ever.
Two ways to begin, whichever feels right for your family.
We discuss cost directly with you
Every family’s situation is different. In a private consultation, we explain exactly what your case involves and what it costs: clearly, up front, with no hidden fees and no surprises. You’ll know precisely what to expect before you decide anything.
- A real conversation, not a price tag: guidance tailored to your case.
- No obligation, no pressure: answers to your questions first.
- A clear, written quote before anything moves forward.
“Let’s talk about what you need. The number comes after we understand your family’s situation, never before.”
One flat fee. Everything included.
No estimates, no surprise add-ons, no hourly billing. One clear price covers everything your family needs to get real answers:
- A complete examination by a board-certified forensic pathologist
- Histology & laboratory analysis by Clinical Pathology Laboratories
- Your full, written autopsy report
- A personal consultation to walk you through every finding
- Direct coordination with your funeral home
- Transportation included within our local service area, up to 40 miles from Elgin, TX (additional miles $2.50/mi)
“Unanswered, the cost is measured in years of wondering. This is the cost of knowing, and it’s fixed, in writing, before you decide.”
Histology for every private autopsy is performed by Clinical Pathology Laboratories (CPL). When toxicology is needed, it's run by NMS Labs, a nationally recognized forensic laboratory.
Authority you can lean on, delivered with care.
“I have fully appreciated and enjoyed my conversations with the doctor, and I really appreciate everything that he's doing for me. I think that you can trust your loved one with these people. Thanks, guys!”
“We had so many unanswered questions. The thorough examination gave us the clarity we desperately needed.”
“The quality and clarity of these autopsy reports are outstanding, and your quick turnaround makes a huge difference in how fast we can get these certificates finished. Thank you!”
★ Every review is a real, consented quote from families and officials we’ve served.
We’re not the county medical examiner. That’s the point.
The government medical examiner decides which deaths it will investigate. A private autopsy is yours to request, and yours to direct.
Answers, before you even call.
How quickly can you begin?
We respond within 24 hours and can often begin the same day you contact us. We know that when you’re waiting for answers, every day matters.
Will this delay the funeral?
No. Private autopsies are typically completed within 24–48 hours, and we coordinate directly with your funeral home throughout — so your planned services aren’t delayed.
What if the medical examiner already declined our case?
That’s one of the most common reasons families call us. The county declining doesn’t mean nothing can be done — it means the decision is now yours, and we’re here to help you make it.
How much does a private autopsy cost, and how does the process work?
A complete private autopsy is a flat $5,795 — all-inclusive, with no hourly billing and no surprise add-ons. That one price covers the full examination by a board-certified forensic pathologist, histology and laboratory analysis, your written report, a personal consultation to walk you through every finding, direct coordination with your funeral home, and transportation within 40 miles of Elgin, TX. The process is simple: you reach out and we respond within 24 hours; you sign the authorizations and we bring your loved one into our care; the pathologist performs the exam and shares preliminary answers within 24 hours; and your full, lab-confirmed report follows in about four to five weeks. To reserve your case, 50% is due up front with the balance two weeks later — payment plans are available, and we accept Apple Pay, major cards, and Affirm. If you’d rather talk it through first, we also offer a no-obligation consultation where we explain exactly what your case involves and what it costs before you decide anything.
Can I speak with someone directly?
Always. You’ll have direct contact with our team and can reach us with any question, at any point in the process.
Do you serve my area?
Yes — we provide private autopsy services to families across Texas, coordinating with local funeral homes wherever you are.
For funeral directors
A reliable partner you can hand a family to with confidence: fast scheduling, clean coordination, dignified care, and clear communication every step of the way.
Private autopsies across the Dallas area
We serve families throughout the metro with the same speed, care, and board-certified authority. Explore the counties we cover:
When you’re ready, we’re here.
Day or night, you can talk to us. We’ll listen, explain your options, and help you find the answers you deserve.